Two down, one to go!

It's Friday here (Thursday there) which means I've made it through two of the three farewell parties. The first two were difficult in some ways (because of who we are saying farewell to) and a ton of fun (because they were with the teachers). Tonights party, for Kabara-san, will be significantly different - there will be no teachers there and I don't think there will be anyone who speaks much in the way of English either. The office staff are very kind to me though and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to socialize with them.
Last weekend was fun. On Saturday Joisan and Taran and I hit a new arcade that was opening that day in Date. We had coupons from the day we went to the movies that gave us free tokens to play some of the games so we went to check it out. I would not be at all surprised to learn that the big casinos own the amusement places because they seem to just be training places for learning how to gamble! Joisan and I have both learned to only take the amount of cash into the building that we are willing to lose. It is just so difficult not to keep prying open the wallet when you're right in the heat of the moment!
On Sunday Ian and I and Joisan went to Muroran for the day. We did a bit of shopping - checked out the big second-hand store and the sporting goods store and then we had some lunch and went to the concert. It was the Muroran Wind Society with a special guest (Eric Miyashiro) and it was very impressive. Eric in particular was increadible and I've got a bit of video of him playing that I'm going to post on YouTube and link to so watch for that!
Monday night we had Naoko and Koshizaka-sensei (the Japanese teacher) over for dinner. It was the first time that Koshizaka-sensei had come for dinner and we enjoyed having her over. Tuesday was fairly low-key with wrapping stuff up at school and for the afterschool program. Wednesday was the closing ceremonies and the announcement to the students of which teachers are leaving. Of course I cried and cried at the closing ceremony. I have known since just after we decided to stay that Hiro is leaving. She has been secconded to another district far far away on Honshu (the big island). She will be gone for two years and I am a little devastated. She has been my friend and advisor and I'm not sure how I will manage without her - except that I've made some wonderful connections among the rest of the staff (Naoko in particular) so I'm sure it will be fine - just different. Koshizaka-sensei (Japanese teacher) and Kyoto-sensei (vice-principal) are also leaving to go to other schools but it was watching Hiro as she struggled not to cry that really made me feel lost.
Anyway, the teachers farewell party was Wednesday night. We all went to a hotel at Lake Toya where we feasted and talked and drank and played bingo to win our end of the year prizes! We spent a couple of hours in the very intimate (read tiny) bar visiting and drinking. Later on (after the VP had been poured into bed) we played pool and then some of us went for a bath at the onsen. Hiro had pretty much passed out by then and Naoko didn't want to bath with us so there were only five of us female teachers and it was very late so it was very empty! There was an outdoor bath and it seemed like paradise to be out there laughing and talking with everyone. I didn't sleep very well - strange futon, strange pillow and the room was too hot. When I got up I could still smell cigarette smoke on myself despite my bath the night before so I went and had another bath. We had a large traditional Japanese breakfast including raw egg and natto (fermented soybeans), salmon, miso soup, seaweed and rice, and then we were taken home. Oh yes - I forgot to mention that the hotels around here will pick you up and deliver you home! And for the evening-only events there is always a bus to transport everyone. No drinking and driving here!
All the teachers (eventually) dragged themselves in to the school yesterday. There was a fair amount of moaning and groaning going on but no one failed to show up at the next party! Last night was the PTA party so Ian came along too. We went to one of the local hotels and had amazing food and lots to drink. There was a Karaoke machine and despite the fact that Naoko said she would not sing, much sake helped her to get up with Ato-san and Ian to sing "Let It Be". Of course, Ato-san dropping his pants twice made her run away! At the end of the song, when he had been abandoned by Ato-san too Ian decided to start taking off his shirt! It was a little funny and a little embarassing. Anyway, there was more drinking, followed (inevitably) by more singing. Ian and Hiro and I sang "Eight Days A Week" and then it was time to go. We got all the way out to the last bus and Ian decided to go continue partying with Ato-san so I rode the bus home by myself. I left before he got up this morning so I'm still not sure what time he came home.
That catches us up to today. I'm on my way to the Chugakko now and then this evening I will be going out with the office staff to celebrate the retirement of Kabara-san. I really hope that his replacement is as nice as he is.